TOPIC:

The recent question raised about Pte Flanaghan, RDF and Meurig's question started me looking for the names of the men on the train.

These are the names from the NFF register of those killed or wounded on the day of the incident:


Bond J Sergeant Slightly wounded Durban Light Infantry
Bramley A Mr Slightly wounded Railway employee
Brunill R Private Slightly wounded Durban Light Infantry
Christie J Private Slightly wounded Durban Light Infantry
Coldbeck T Private Severely wounded Durban Light Infantry
Coote J 5914 Private Severely wounded RDF
Cumming G Colour Sergeant Slightly wounded Durban Light Infantry
Daly O 5316 Private Wounded RDF
Dickie A Corporal Slightly wounded Durban Light Infantry
Drew J 5296 Private Wounded RDF
Driscoll M 4676 Private Wounded RDF
Goodfrey C Mr Slightly wounded Railway employee
Hatten J W Private Slightly wounded Durban Light Infantry
Jallow W Mr Slightly wounded Railway employee
Jarks Private Slightly wounded Durban Light Infantry
Johnston C 5263 Private Severely wounded RDF
Magee P J 3993 Colour Sergeant Killed in action RDF
Maguire E 5861 Private Killed in action RDF
Murdock J A Private Slightly wounded Durban Light Infantry
Paxton Private Slightly wounded Durban Light Infantry
Smith A Private Slightly wounded Durban Light Infantry
Webb H Private Slightly wounded Durban Light Infantry

On 19 November, The Times reported that 56 prisoners had reached Pretoria:



Working backwards, the first list of casualties appeared in The Times on 18 November



And a list of the DLI missing on the 20th



Romer, in his book on the 2nd RDF, lists the casualties and it is this list that includes 4542 Flanagan.



Has anyone seen any list of men in the train who were not wounded or made prisoner?

I've heard tell that a list exists iro the DLI but have never had sight of it myself.

It could have come from the Natal Mercury.

Rory,

I don't suppose you have heard any plans to digitise these old newspapers? What an archive they would form.

Romer comments "On November 15th, Captain Haldane, of the Gordon Highlanders, went out in the train with 'A' company and some men of the Durban Light Infantry."

The composition of the companies is something that has always eluded me. It would be very helpful here as it would be in the case of the 5th Lancers at Elandslaagte!

Thanks David.

From my work last year on POWs released Flanagan is not amongst them, not to say he wasn't a POW, but the evidence is that he got away from the Boers on the 15th.

David

The Natal Volunteer Record which you had started digitising has the D.L.I. chaps sorted into Companies.

Regards

Rory